10 of the Best Dog Food For Hypothyroidism – 2021 Top Picks

Nutrient Content

If your pet is suffering from lethargy as one of their symptoms of hypothyroidism, this food would be great to feed them as they’ll be getting the nutrients they need at a decent calorie count. 27% protein content is a little on the high side but with its calorie content, it shouldn’t have any negative effects for dogs who are less active.

Garbanzo beans are its main source of fiber, which helps with digestion.

Dehydrated Ingredients 

The Honest Kitchen dehydrates their ingredients, which helps keep them fresh with no added preservatives. Drying out ingredients is the best way of preserving them without adding anything artificial. And the best part is that they retain most of their nutritional value and flavor. It also prevents the growth of bacteria that thrive in warm air and makes the food compact while keeping it full of good nutrients.

You’ll only find organic and human-grade ingredients in this food. It’s nutrient-dense and very easy on the mouth and stomach.

Quick and Easy to Prepare

All that’s required to give your senior pup a great meal is to add warm water. Not only does it bulk up the food, it keeps your pooch hydrated as well.

Dogs (especially seniors) with thyroid disease may be prone to lethargy and this may mean that they don’t drink as much water as they should be. This meal will give them the nutrients they need to keep healthy as well as the hydration they need for easy digestion.

Highly Concentrated Protein Sources

While raw ingredients are always best, the absence of real meat isn’t necessarily a problem, so don’t let this put you off.

This dog food contains chicken and fish meal, which are highly concentrated forms of protein, and are also easy to digest. The veggies and fruits included are dried, which helps preserve the nutrient content in this food.

This is best for dogs who can tolerate grains (it contains rice and oatmeal) and whose owners are looking for a dog food that is healthy and won’t cost a fortune.

Ingredient Quality

The ingredients used to make this food are natural and come from high quality sources.

Salmon is a great protein source for dogs with low thyroid function as it also contains essential fatty acids, which helps dogs who may be suffering from dry skin and fur. The protein count is at 25%, which is ideal for dogs who are moderately active.

Taste of the Wild food also contains their special K9 strain of probiotics, which are developed specifically to improve and maintain a healthy immune system in dogs while ensuring food is digested properly.

Iodine Supplements

Sometimes a vet will suggest putting thyroxine-deficient dogs on iodine supplements. If your dog is one of those who takes a supplemental dose of iodine each day, it’s most likely not necessary to get any more from the kelp in dog foods.

While it’s not an absolute no-no to feed your dog a food containing kelp if they are on supplements, we recommend a kelp-free food for pups already getting enough iodine.

Human-Grade Dog Food

The ingredient list is impressive, containing mostly whole fruits and vegetables and 3 different forms of a single animal protein.

It also contains a few chelated minerals which are quite easily digested, and chia seeds, flaxseed, and sunflower oil are fantastic sources of Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids (which is great for hypothyroidism as it helps lower the chances of dry skin and brittle fur).

Lower Calorie Than Most

At 161 calories per cup, this dog food is significantly lower in calories than most products especially at its price point.

Whole Foods and Chelated Minerals

The list of ingredients looks good, beginning with 3 sources of easily digestible protein.

It also has fresh vegetables, fruits, and chelated minerals which also assist with digestion. Menhaden fish meal is what gives the glucosamine boost. Kelp is a welcome addition which is helpful to stimulate the thyroid. Chickpeas and pea protein are plant-based protein sources, which contribute to its high protein content.

High Calorie For High Activity  

With 390 calories in a cup of this kibble, your dog will need to be fairly active to avoid packing on the pounds.

Although lethargy can be one of the symptoms of a dysfunctional thyroid, it doesn’t affect all pups who have been diagnosed, so if your dog still enjoys regular exercise this food would serve them well.

Contains Good Grains

Grains get a bad rap, but they’re not all bad ingredients.

This food contains some of the good ones – whole brown rice, rice bran, and whole-grain oatmeal. These grains are easily digestible and far more nutritious than wheat, soy, or corn. Brewers rice is the only one that is not on the “good grains” list – it has little to no nutritious value and is often considered to be a filler. That being said, this food is still healthy and nutritious for your dog as long as they can tolerate the good grains!

Extra Benefits

The “Superfood blend” is packed with antioxidants to keep the immune system functioning at optimal levels, which is great for dogs with any sort of health disorder.

It also contains natural sources of glucosamine, and the oils and fatty acids found in flaxseed, chia seeds and sunflower oil will help give your pet some relief from the flaky skin and dry, tough fur that can come with hypothyroidism.

Puppies’ Nutritional Needs

Although hypothyroidism is a disease that usually only affects older dogs, it can be a congenital condition that develops within the first year of a puppy’s life.

It’s always a good idea to start treating these things early, not only with meds but in your dog’s diet too. This puppy formula contains a decent calorie count (407 – puppies need more than adults), a bit of an elevated protein count (26%), DHA (for healthy brain development), and a dose of kelp. Flaxseed and fish oil also keep their coat sleek and shiny from the start.

Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits  

One thing that sets these guys a little apart from other brands is the addition of their special blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The ingredients in these have been selected by animal nutritionists, and they’ve been cold-pressed to avoid losing nutrients to heat.

They are intended to improve immune system health and keep a healthy oxidative balance in your puppy’s body, so they can only be a good thing as your pup grows.

Intended for Large Breed Dogs

Hypothyroidism is more common in medium to large breeds, and some breeds that seem to be more affected include Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, and Irish Setters.

Large breed dogs’ nutritional requirements differ from smaller dogs, and glucosamine and chondroitin are much more essential for these big boys than they are for other pups. A high protein count is great for maintaining muscle, but it’s important that your large breed is active and able to work off the extra calories when eating this food!

Natural, Whole Food Ingredients

The protein sources include turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, and chicken liver (be careful of hidden chicken ingredients if your pet is sensitive to poultry!).

Vegetables such as peas, broccoli, carrots, kale, and fruits like blueberries and apples make this a superfood-rich offering that is high in antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. The ingredients are also GMO-free, which is helpful when it comes to making sure that there’s nothing in your pet’s food that can trigger any allergic reactions. Glucosamine, flaxseed, and salmon oil add the little extra bits that make this great for large breeds with low thyroid hormone levels.

Naturally Preserved

The lack of artificial ingredients is essential when it comes to picking dog foods for low thyroid function that would promote your dog’s health, and Wellness Core contains nothing that isn’t natural.

They preserve their food using mixed tocopherols, which is the accepted natural preservative used in high-quality foods for hypothyroidism. This is essential for dogs with hypothyroidism – because their metabolism is slower than average, artificial ingredients can cause digestion problems. When all is considered, this would be a great dog food for your large breed.